As violence erupts, calls from panic-stricken residents flood PCR

While the Dera Sacha Sauda followers were upset after they were informed about the conviction of their chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the situation turned more frightening for locals, who had been living in fear for the past three days.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Aug 26, 2017 04:45 AM IST

panchkula, chandigarh, dera sacha sauda, rape verdict, haryana riots, indian express

A vehicle set on fire by Dera followers on Panchkula-Zirakpur highway on Friday. Jaipal Singh

It was the control room landline phone that kept on ringing as residents of the most sensitive areas, Sector 2 and Sector 4, Panchkula, just wanted the police to reach their homes after the Dera mob started moving inside their residences. While the Dera Sacha Sauda followers were upset after they were informed about the conviction of their chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the situation turned more frightening for locals, who had been living in fear for the past three days. The Dera rioters then started moving into the residence of the local area and damaging their cars and houses.

“Thank God, the phones were not switched off by the administration,” said Mrityunjay, a resident of Sector 4, who got his home saved from the Dera mob by calling the police control room. “That time, it turned horrifying for us when the news of Ram Rahim’s conviction was heard as the Dera followers, who could not be controlled by the police at the Hafed roundabout, started moving into our homes,” he further stated.

“We had been keeping a watch over the Dera people from our rooftop and, as my sister saw that they were bracing for violence, we bolted the door of our residence as the rioters could not be reined in by the police,” added Mrityunjay. “The rioters, in a group of 10, entered our residence and the neighbours’ houses with stones and sticks. As they set the car of neighbour Sanjeev Sharma ablaze, my mother immediately called the control room number given by the police. We informed the control room about the situation and thankfully, the forces reached our residence within a minute,” said Mritunjay.

Another Sector 2 resident, Puneet Katyal, said, “It was the worst for us as the Dera people were just trying to move towards the Panchkula district court, which is closest to Sector 2, and while heading towards the court, they were simply damaging houses on the way. We have been living in so much fear since they started halting at the nearby parks. On Friday afternoon, as the conviction of Ram Rahim was pronounced, these Dera followers were just finding things to set on fire in anger.”

Dera followers defecate in the open

Kamal Kaushal, a Sector 4 resident, said, “We were not only scared but also troubled by the Dera people, who had occupied the parks and pavements near our residence. Also, they were defecating in the open anywhere they wished to, which turned the area highly stinking.”

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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